AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Hold discussion on the Legislative trip to Washington D.C. and provide direction to the City Manager.
Body
Meeting date: April 5, 2022
Department: Communications/IGR
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: Click or tap here to enter text.
Account Number: Click or tap here to enter text.
Funds Available: Click or tap here to enter text.
Account Name: Click or tap here to enter text.
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: Click or tap here to enter text.
City Council Strategic Initiative: [Please select from the dropdown menu below]
Choose an item.
Choose an item.
Choose an item.
Comprehensive Plan Element (s): [Please select the Plan element(s) and Goal # from dropdown menu below]
☐ Economic Development - Choose an item.
☐ Environment & Resource Protection - Choose an item.
☐ Land Use - Choose an item.
☐ Neighborhoods & Housing - Choose an item.
☐ Parks, Public Spaces & Facilities - Choose an item.
☐ Transportation - Choose an item.
☐ Core Services
☐ Not Applicable
Master Plan: [Please select the corresponding Master Plan from the dropdown menu below (if applicable)]
Choose an item.
Background Information:
As directed by the City Council, the City of San Marcos participates in state and federal legislative processes by monitoring and advocating for or against policies to support, safeguard, protect, and enhance the interests of residents and businesses. The Intergovernmental Relations Program is guided by the core values found in the City Charter’s Statement of Goals and the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statements.
As part of the program, elected officials and key members of City staff have participated in a fly-in to Washington, D.C., facilitated through The Normandy Group, to visit with members of our delegation and advocate for our priorities before Congress and federal agencies. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic these trips were taken annually, however participation was paused due to safety concerns. The most recent City of San Marcos Washington, D.C. fly-in was held in May 2019 with a plan to return June 2022.
Attendees to previous Washington, D.C. fly-ins include:
2019:
Kristy Stark, Director of Communications and IGR
Jamie Lee Case, City Clerk
Laurie Moyer, Director of Engineering and CIP
Bert Lumbreras, City Manager
Steve Parker, Assistant City Manager
Jane Hughson
Melissa Derrick
Lisa Prewitt
Mark Rockeymoore
2018:
Kristy Stark, Director of Communications and IGR
Bert Lumbreras, City Manager
Laurie Moyer, Director of Engineering and CIP
John Thomaides
Scott Gregson
Lisa Prewitt
Past visits’ scheduled meetings:
2019:
1. U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Kevin Farmer, Deputy Director of the Conservation Engineering Division
2. U.S. Department of Transportation
- Anne Reinke, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs
- Mark Bathrick, Program Manager - Bus Competition
- Sean Poole, Special Assistant for Governmental Affairs
- Heather Dean, Congressional Liaison Specialist, FHWA
3. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Karla A. Roberts, Acting Deputy Chief, Southwestern Division
- Sue Hughes, Mississippi Valley and Southwestern Division Regional Integration Team
4. Federal Aviation Administration
- Brian Langdon, Manager
- Jana Lozano, Senior Congressional Liaison
5. Texas Department of Transportation
- Melanie Alvord, Federal Affairs
- Megan Kenney, Congressional Liaison
6. Congressman Chip Roy and John Fletcher, Legislative Aide
7. Madison Smith, Senior Legislative Assistant to Senator John Cornyn
8. Senator Ted Cruz and Austin Smithson, Legislative Counsel
9. Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Doug Molof, Legislative Director
2018:
1. Federal Transit Administration
- K. Jane Williams, Acting Administrator
2. Enterprise Community Partners
- Victoria Brown, Director
- Patrick Jordan, Senior Director
3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Tennille Parker, Director; Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division
4. U.S. Department of Labor
- Rosemary Lahasky, Deputy Assistant Secretary
5. Congressman Lamar Smith
6. Texas Department of Transportation
- Melissa Meyer, Federal Affairs
- Melanie Alvord, Federal Affairs
7. Congressman Lloyd Doggett
8. Senator Ted Cruz
9. Senator John Cornyn
Washington, D.C. Fly-in Notable Successes:
The Washington, D.C. Fly-ins through the City of San Marcos’ Intergovernmental Relations Program have established invaluable connections between members of the Congressional delegation and key agency representatives and the City’s elected officials and staff. Between 2009 and 2020, the City has received more than $111 million in federal funding for various projects, in part attributed to the Washington, D.C. visits. Specific examples of the visits’ successes include:
- Following the 2015 Memorial Day Flood, San Marcos secured $25.08 million in CDBG-DR funding following discussions with and support from Rep. Doggett, Rep. Smith, Sen. Cornyn, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. San Marcos was one of only three cities to receive direct funding.
- Through the direct intervention of Rep. Smith’s office, the City was able to resolve issues related to long-term temporary housing following the 2015 Memorial Day Flood and received an extension from FEMA to draft new flood elevation maps.
- Received support from Congressional delegation, including direct phone calls and letters, which led to the successful installation of Terminal Radar Display (August 2014) and extended operational hours of the Air Traffic Control Tower (April 2021) at the San Marcos Regional Airport.
- Visits with TxDOT’s office in D.C. helped the City secure the final $11 million needed for the Loop 82 Overpass Project following an unsuccessful grant application.
- Letters of support from key members of the delegation have helped secure a total of $1.38 million in funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for radio equipment upgrades and the purchase of medical equipment including heart monitors, respirators, and life-saving devices.
- With the delegation’s assistance, the City secured a representative of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to serve as the headline speaker of the 2016 Innovation Summit.
Council Committee, Board/Commission Action:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Alternatives:
Click or tap here to enter text.
Recommendation:
Click or tap here to enter text.